{"id":38225,"date":"2026-04-29T09:53:48","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T07:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/?p=38225"},"modified":"2026-06-09T14:46:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T12:46:56","slug":"a-seashell-a-handful-of-sand-seaweed-everything-on-the-beach-is-there-for-a-reason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/live-green\/a-seashell-a-handful-of-sand-seaweed-everything-on-the-beach-is-there-for-a-reason\/","title":{"rendered":"A seashell, a handful of sand, \u2018seaweed\u2019 \u2013 everything on the beach is there for a reason"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The sea creates fascinating and unique works of art through its never-ending processes. From brightly colored rocks in all shapes and sizes to colorful seashells and corals washed ashore on the beach. It doesn\u2019t come as a surprise then that beachgoers fall into temptation of taking these ‘beach souvenirs<\/strong>‘ with them as a small reminder of their fun summer vacations. Whether it\u2019s a shiny pebble, a handful of sand or an empty shell, souvenirs from the beach often find themselves in beachgoers\u2019 pockets and souvenir shops along the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first glance, it may seem like taking these souvenirs from the beach is a harmless act. Perhaps we don\u2019t even perceive them as part of the ecosystem but as objects discarded by nature. However, did u know that even that which the sea has cast away helps natural processes to constantly support life and its surroundings?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out in the following paragraphs how this seemingly harmless practice affects marine conservation <\/strong>and what role it plays in the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hermit crab becomes a homeless crab<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Empty seashells and crab shells<\/strong> that we find washed away at the beach are important for the health of coastal ecosystems as they become new homes for sea creatures which find shelter in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take the hermit crab <\/strong>as an example. It\u2019s in constant search of a bigger house and depends on the availability of suitable new homes. If we take hermit crab shells from the beach, we have increased competition among them and put their chances of survival in jeopardy<\/strong>. The decrease in the number of hermit crabs has further negative consequences for the food chain. Bird species which feed on the crabs are faced with a food shortage. On the other hand, algae that the crabs feed on begin growing beyond control and harming marine habitats by doing so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another alarming fact is the sad reality of hermit crabs being forced to use plastic waste<\/strong> shells found on the beach as shelter in recent decades. To prevent this, besides leaving shells on the beach, let\u2019s try not to bring waste to the beach. Remember to always leave nature intact and the way you find it<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Corals and seashells<\/strong> are important shelters for many species of microorganisms, they serve as an anchorage for algae, and some bird species make use of them as well. Same goes for various species of fish and mollusks which find shelter in them. So, by removing empty shells from the beach, we are not only preventing land animals from making use of them but also preventing waves and tides from returning them into the ecosystem where they serve a purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organic remains like dry starfish, sponges or seahorses<\/strong> are also an important factor for life along the coast. On the one hand, they are the direct food source for certain species. On the other, they return essential organic compounds to nature through decomposition. Doing so, they provide food for microorganisms and maintain the health of the ecosystem. Removing these organic remains from beaches brings many species into danger, lowers their chances of survival, and brings imbalance into natural processes. So, keep in mind that a dry sponge is more useful at the beach than in the shower<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s a beach without sand or pebbles?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each rock, pebble and grain of sand <\/strong>at the beach was shaped through incredibly long processes. Besides being integral parts of the beach, they are also homes for various species that inhabit them. However, beaches are susceptible to erosion due to constant barrages of wind and the sea. To protect the coast from erosion<\/strong>, beaches need to be resilient, so we shouldn\u2019t remove rocks, pebbles and sand from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with the importance of empty shells for supporting life, it\u2019s worth noting that these organic remains play a big role in conserving beaches themselves. Thanks to the effects of the sea and the wind, these remains begin crumbling and forming sand sediments<\/strong>. Beaches comprised of biogenic sand created in this way are truly rare around the world, making it important to mention that the Croatian coast has a few!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Removing hard organic remains from beaches has a direct impact on erosion processes and puts the coast in danger. And while the breaking down of shells and corals creates sand, it is also important for recycling nutrients. By breaking down they return important compounds like calcium carbonate back into nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All sandy beaches are important habitats for sea turtles<\/strong>, but also many species of birds<\/strong> which nest on them. Because of the importance of marine habitats conservation<\/a>, Sunce is bringing attention to the issue through the project ASPEH- Adriatic SPEcies and Habitats of coastal areas<\/a>. The Adriatic treasures<\/em><\/strong> campaign emphasizes natural beaches as not merely parts of the scenery but also symbols of richness and reminders of Adriatic\u2019s fragility in need of protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Seagrass keeps the beach safe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It may sound a little surprising, but even the ‘seaweed’ washed up on the shore plays an important role in preserving beaches and coastal habitats. Along the Adriatic coast, the best example is Posidonia<\/a> <\/strong>(Posidonia oceanica), known in some regions as la\u017eina<\/em>. This endemic Mediterranean species <\/strong>grows at depths of up to around 40 metres. Its underwater meadows provide habitat and food for a wide variety of marine organisms, and thanks to photosynthesis, they are also vital for oxygen production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The roots of Posidonia, especially in intertidal zones, are of great significance for the prevention of seabed erosion. However, Posidonia\u2019s role in erosion prevention doesn\u2019t end there. Posidonia banquettes<\/strong>, which are piles of Posidonia washed ashore by the waves, form a protective covering layer that stabilizes the sediment on beaches and prevents erosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"posidonija-more\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Marine plant banquettes are important for living creatures as well. Various organisms at the beach make it their homes. Through decomposition they release nitrogen and calcium carbonate back into nature, making them crucial for natural processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to hear that beaches covered in seagrass are not clean as most people deem dried marine plants esthetically unpleasing. As a result, many tourism boards insist on removing Posidonia from beaches, especially during the high season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An example of such approach to Posidonia banquettes was the famous Sakarun beach on Dugi Otok Island<\/strong>. Because of its reputation as a tropical paradise beach, Posidonia was removed from Sakarun for many years not to harm its visual appeal. Consequently, 24 metric tons of sand <\/strong>and other sediments were carried away from the beach by waves and tides<\/strong> in a single decade. Luckly, thanks to recent research and raising awareness on the topic, the bad practice has stopped and Posidonia is protecting Sakarun beach once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"sakarun\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

‘Nature souvenirs’ should stay in nature<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not only the removal of sand and stones that can endanger beaches, but also taking away everything that creates, protects, and sustains life along the shore \u2013 from empty shells and coral fragments to seemingly harmless ‘seaweed’, as well as every pebble and grain of sand. Each of these elements plays an important role and deserves to be respected. When we take something away, we alter that natural balance. The effects may not be visible immediately, but over time they become clear as beaches shrink and marine biodiversity declines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why these ‘natural souvenirs’ should remain where they belong<\/strong> \u2013 in nature. By leaving them behind, we help keep our beaches resilient, healthy, and beautiful<\/strong>. Remember this the next time you visit the coast, and share it with others around you, because some things are simply better left exactly where they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"aspeh-interreg-eu\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Discover why you shouldn\u2019t take shells, sand, or Posidonia from the beach, and how these natural treasures help preserve the ecosystem and prevent coastal erosion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":38212,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1269,473],"tags":[1381,1267,1325],"class_list":["post-38225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aspeh-adriatic-species-and-habitats-of-coastal-areas-en","category-live-green","tag-adriatic-treasures","tag-aspeh","tag-sea-protection"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38225","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38225"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38225\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38684,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38225\/revisions\/38684"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38212"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}